FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: October 1, 2019
Contact: Suzanne Lagay, Freeholder Director
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Suzanne.lagay@co.hunterdon.nj.us
Hunterdon County Planning Board Hosts 2020
Find out what's happening in Flemingtonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Census Informational Session
On September 18, at the Hunterdon County Planning Board Breakfast Information Meeting, local representatives from the U.S. Census Bureau provided an important update to local leaders and government stakeholders about the importance of participating in the 2020 Census, the value of data produced, and how that information can be shared with municipalities.
Freeholder Director Suzanne Lagay introduced the Census representatives and started the meeting by recognizing the value of the information being collected for the 2020 Census and that the Census will be recruiting residents for employment during the upcoming County Job Fair. She also announced that New York Regional Census Center Deputy Director Ian Hull would speak at the Complete Count Committee Kickoff meeting that evening.
Cheryl Bolden, Supervisory Partnership Specialist for the New York Regional Census Center told the audience the Census is more than just capturing numbers. In addition to determining the number of seats each state is allocated in the U.S. House of Representatives, it also affects the distribution of over $675 billion in federal funds annually. Funding that pays for road construction and repairs, Medicaid, school lunch programs, health care centers, and much more.
The Census Bureau has already been combing through information and collecting data to verify addresses. The Census is an address-driven operation, any new construction or removal of livable space must be documented prior to data collection.
Ms. Bolden reported that in 2020, there will be three ways to self-respond: online, by phone, or on paper. Online and by phone, the questionnaire will be available in English and 12 non-English languages. On paper, the questionnaire will be available in English and Spanish. Additional support will be available in braille, American Sign Language, and large print. Guides and videos in 59 total, non-English languages will also support respondents completing the English questionnaire. The 2020 Census will have staff go door to door to housing units that do not self-respond.
With more than fifty ways Census data can be used, from redistricting legislative boundaries, development of rural areas, government budget planning and medical needs planning, the decennial event of collecting information is a benefit to the community.
Partnership Specialist Dr. Allison Jackson presented a general “roadmap” for the logistic operation of the 2020 Census for Hunterdon and Somerset Counties. Dr. Jackson also discussed the role of the Hunterdon County Complete Count Committee which will be responsible for raising awareness about the Census. The CCC will also focus on motivating the public to respond and obtain a complete and accurate count in the county. She further shared the importance of hiring local and encouraged everyone to apply at www.2020census.gov/jobs.
David Kraiker, data administration specialist for the U.S. Census Bureau, discussed some of the online tools available to the public for obtaining Census demographic and economic information. To view Census data that has been collected, visit: census.gov.
Bonnie Duncan, Co-Chair of the Hunterdon County Complete Count Committee and a NJ Census & Nonprofit Community Commissioner, also provided information concerning the role of the Committee and the importance of obtaining an accurate Census count for each municipality in the County.
The Planning Board holds information sessions several times a year designed to bring different topics and information to local officials.
